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US4770636A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cognometer

Assignee: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
•
Filing: 1987-04-10
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Granted: 1988-09-13
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Expires: 2007-04-10
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Abstract

Abstract The cognometer is a portable electronic device programmed for repeated, rapid, automated assessment and monitoring of memory and concentration. The memory monitor randomly generates data and displays the same in a common format, tests the user's comprehension of such data, tests the immediate recall of such data, and tests the delayed recall of such data. The concentration monitor randomly generates a long multi-digit number and displays the same, tests the user's comprehension of such number, and tests the concentration of the user by requiring the user to enter such number while the number is displayed, but without any position cue.

Inventors

  • 👤 Herman Buschke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/165; G09B19/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data is a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data; and (F) means, operative only if the user has immediate recall of said randomly generated data, for testing the delayed recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data is a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data; and (F) means, operative only if the user has immediate recall of said randomly generated data, for testing the delayed recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 wherein said randomly generated data comprises a number comprising a series of digits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The memory monitor of claim 2 wherein said display means displays said series of digits in the common format of a telephone number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The memory monitor of claim 3 wherein said telephone number is a seven-digit number with punctuation intermediate the third and fourth digits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The memory monitor of claim 3 wherein said telephone number is a ten-digit number in the common format of a long distance telephone number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The memory monitor of claim 5 wherein the common format is ##STR2##
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The memory monitor of claim 2 wherein said data entry means comprises a plurality of numbered buttons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 83 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 wherein said means for testing comprehension of said randomly generated data comprises means for displaying said randomly generated data on said display means, and means for comparing said randomly generated data with first new data entered by the user on said data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on said display means and for displaying correct data in said first new data on said display means in alignment with said randomly generated data displayed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
The memory monitor of claim 8 additionally comprising means, operative only if an error was made, for clearing said display means of any of said data and then restarting said comprehension test means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
The memory monitor of claim 8 additionally comprising means, operative only if an error was made, for indicating an error was made on the last datum entered by the user on said data entry means and for providing the user another opportunity to enter the correct datum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 115 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 wherein said means for testing the immediate recall of said randomly generated data comprises means for clearing said display means of any of said data while displaying on said display means the common format of said randomly generated data; means for displaying on said display means second new data entered by the user on said data entry means; means for comparing said second new data entered by the user with said randomly generated data and drawing attention to any errors made by the user; and means, operative only if an error was made, for clearing said display means of said second new data and restarting said comprehension test means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 99 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 wherein said means for testing the delayed recall of said randomly generated data comprises means for clearing said display means of any of said data displayed; means for distracting the user; means for clearing said display means of any of said data displayed while displaying on said display means the common format of said randomly generated data; means for displaying on said display means third new data entered by the user on said data entry means; and means for comparing said third new data entered by the user with said randomly generated data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The memory monitor of claim 12 wherein said delayed recall test means additionally comprises means, operative only if an error was made, for restarting said comprehension testing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
The memory monitor of claim 12 wherein said means for distracting the user comprises means for requiring the user to correctly copy a series of simple data sets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory monitor of claim 12 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance on the delayed recall testing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 41 words
The memory monitor of claim 15 wherein said calculating means divides the number of digits correctly entered by the user as said third new data on said delayed recall test by the total number of digits in said randomly generated number.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance on the delayed recall testing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 74 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means scores reflecting the user's performance on the comprehension testing means, the immediate recall testing means and the delayed recall testing means, separately, each of said scores representing the number of data units correctly entered during each test as a percentage of the total number of data units in the randomly generated data times the number of tests.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 45 words
The memory monitor of claim 1 additionally including means for calculating scores reflecting both the number of new data units copied or recalled on each trial and the number of trials needed to copy or recall all of the data units in correct serial order.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 72 words
The memory monitor of claim 19 wherein said calculating means determines scores separately for copying, immediately recall and delayed recall, with each score representing the cumulative number of new data units copied or recalled on each trial up to and including the first completely correct trial, weighted by dividing the number of new data units of copying, immediate recall or delayed recall by factors taking into account the number of trials needed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 32 words
The memory monitor of claim 20 wherein said calculating means determines recall scores which take into account any additional copying or immediate recall needed by counting trials from the first copy trial.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 34 words
A cognometer comprising in combination in a single portable device: (A) a memory monitor according to claim 1; (B) a concentration monitor; and (C) means for actuating one of said monitors at a time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 140 words
A concentration monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating a long multi-character data and displaying said randomly generated data on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on said data entry means while displaying said randomly generated data and a position cue on said display means; (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the concentration of the user by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on said data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on said display means without any position cue; and (F) means, operative only if the user has failed such concentration test, for restarting the concentration testing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 140 words
A concentration monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating a long multi-character data and displaying said randomly generated data on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on said data entry means while displaying said randomly generated data and a position cue on said display means; (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the concentration of the user by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on said data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on said display means without any position cue; and (F) means, operative only if the user has failed such concentration test, for restarting the concentration testing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 21 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 wherein said position cue is a flashing cursor marking the next character to be copied.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 33 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 additionally comprising means, operative upon failure of such comprehension test by the user, for relocating said position cue to the beginning of said randomly generated data displayed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 32 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 additionally comprising means, operative upon failure of said concentration test, for restarting the copying from the beginning of said randomly generated data without a position cue.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 36 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 wherein said concentration testing means compares said characters entered by said user with the characters of said randomly generated data without displaying on said display means the characters already entered.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 31 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 wherein said comprehension testing means displays correctly entered characters on said display means in vertical alignment with the corresponding characters in said randomly generated data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 75 words
The concentration monitor of claim 29 including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance on the comprehension test and on the concentration test, separately, said calculating means determining said score for each of said tests at least in part by dividing the number of characters correctly entered by the user for all trials by the total number of characters in said randomly generated data in said trials.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 52 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 additionally including means for calculating scores reflecting both the number of new characters copied with or without a position cue on each trial and the number of trials needed to copy with or without a position cue all of the correct characters in correct serial order.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 62 words
The concentration monitor of claim 31 wherein said calculating means determines scores separately for copying with and without a position cue, with each score representing the cumulative number of new characters copied on each trial up to and including the first completely correct trial, weighted by dividing the number of new characters by factors taking into account the number of trials needed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 44 words
The concentration monitor of claim 32 wherein said calculating means determines a concentration score which takes into account any additional copying with a position cue needed by counting trials for copying without a position cue from the first copying with a position cue trial.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 16 words
The concentration monitor of claim 23 where said randomly generated data is a long multi-digit number.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 34 words
A cognometer comprising in combination in a single portable device: (A) a memory monitor; (B) a concentration monitor according to claim 23; and (C) means for actuating one of said monitors at a time.
Claim 38
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of monitoring memory comprising the steps of: (A) randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data in a common format on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; (C) only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data; and (D) only if the user has immediate recall of said randomly generated data, testing the delayed recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 39
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of monitoring memory comprising the steps of: (A) randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data in a common format on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; (C) only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data; and (D) only if the user has immediate recall of said randomly generated data, testing the delayed recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 70 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data in a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; and (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 70 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for randomly generating data and displaying said randomly generated data in a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data; and (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said randomly generated data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 19 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 wherein said randomly generated data comprises a number comprising a series of digits.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 23 words
The memory monitor of claim 38 wherein said display means displays said series of digits in the common format of a telephone number.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 22 words
The memory monitor of claim 39 wherein said telephone number is a seven-digit number with punctuation intermediate the third and fourth digits.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 24 words
The memory monitor of claim 39 wherein said telephone number is a ten-digit number in the common format of a long distance telephone number.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 12 words
The memory monitor of claim 41 wherein the common format is ##STR3##
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 17 words
The memory monitor of claim 38 wherein said data entry means comprises a plurality of numbered buttons.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 83 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 wherein said means for testing comprehension of said randomly generated data comprises means for displaying said randomly generated data on said display means, and means for comparing said randomly generated data with first new data entered by the user on said data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on said display means and for displaying correct data in said first new data on said display means in alignment with said randomly generated data displayed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 33 words
The memory monitor of claim 44 additionally comprising means, operative only if an error was made, for clearing said display means of any of said data and then restarting said comprehension test means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 47 words
The memory monitor of claim 44 additionally comprising means, operative only if an error was made, for indicating an error was made on the last datum entered by the user on said data entry means and for providing the user another opportunity to enter the correct datum.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 115 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 wherein said means for testing the immediate recall of said randomly generated data comprises means for clearing said display means of any of said data while displaying on said display means the common format of said randomly generated data; means for displaying on said display means second new data entered by the user on said data entry means; means for comparing said second new data entered by the user with said randomly generated data and drawing attention to any errors made by the user; and means, operative only if an error was made, for clearing said display means of said second new data and restarting said comprehension test means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory monitor of claim 47 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance on the immediate recall testing means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 41 words
The memory monitor of claim 48 wherein said calculating means divides the number of digits correctly entered by the user as said second new data on said immediate recall test by the total number of digits in said randomly generated number.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means a score reflecting the user's performance on the immediate recall testing means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 69 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 additionally including means for calculating and displaying on said display means scores reflecting the user's performance on the comprehension testing means and the immediate recall testing means, separately, each of said scores representing the number of data units correctly entered during each test as a percentage of the total number of data units in the randomly generated data times the number of tests.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 45 words
The memory monitor of claim 37 additionally including means for calculating scores reflecting both the number of new data units copied or recalled on each trial and the number of trials needed to copy or recall all of the data units in correct serial order.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 68 words
The memory monitor of claim 52 wherein said calculating means determines scores separately for copying and immediately recall, with each score representing the cumulative number of new data units copied or recalled on each trial up to and including the first completely correct trial, weighted by dividing the number of new data units of copying or immediate recall by factors taking into account the number of trials needed.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory monitor of claim 53 wherein said calculating means determines recall scores which take into account any additional copying needed by counting trials from the first copy trial.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 34 words
A cognometer comprising in combination in a single portable device: (A) a memory monitor according to claim 37; (B) a concentration monitor; and (C) means for actuating one of said monitors at a time.
Claim 60
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of monitoring concentration comprising the steps of: (A) randomly generating a long multi-character data and displaying said randomly generated data on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on data entry means while displaying said randomly generated data and a position cue on the display means; (C) only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, testing the concentration of the user by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on the data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on the display means without any position cue; and (D) only if the user has failed such concentration test, restarting the concentration testing.
Claim 61
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of monitoring concentration comprising the steps of: (A) randomly generating a long multi-character data and displaying said randomly generated data on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said randomly generated data by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on data entry means while displaying said randomly generated data and a position cue on the display means; (C) only if the user comprehends said randomly generated data, testing the concentration of the user by requiring the user to enter said randomly generated data on the data entry means while said randomly generated data is displayed on the display means without any position cue; and (D) only if the user has failed such concentration test, restarting the concentration testing.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim 65 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for generating data and displaying said generated data in a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said generated data; and (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said generated data.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim 65 words
A memory monitor comprising: (A) display means; (B) means for entering data; (C) means for generating data and displaying said generated data in a common format on said display means; (D) means for testing the user's comprehension of said generated data; and (E) means, operative only if the user comprehends said generated data, for testing the immediate recall by the user of said generated data.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim 33 words
The memory monitor of claim 57 additionally including means, operative only if the user has immediate recall of said generated data, for testing the delayed recall by the user of said generated data.
Claim 65
Independent Claim 78 words
A method of monitoring memory comprising the steps of: (A) generating data and displaying said generated data in a common format on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said generated data; (C) only if the user comprehends said generated data, testing the immediate recall by the user of said generated data; and (D) only if the user has immediate recall of said generated data, testing the delayed recall by the user of said generated data.
Claim 66
Independent Claim 78 words
A method of monitoring memory comprising the steps of: (A) generating data and displaying said generated data in a common format on a display means; (B) testing the user's comprehension of said generated data; (C) only if the user comprehends said generated data, testing the immediate recall by the user of said generated data; and (D) only if the user has immediate recall of said generated data, testing the delayed recall by the user of said generated data.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US31070A Cited
USRE31070E Cited
US4086710A Cited
US4193210A Cited
US4340375A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-09-13 1992-03-14 1992-09-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-09-13 1996-03-14 1996-09-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-09-13 2000-03-14 2000-09-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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